Welcome to Canada – A Traveller’s Guide to Staying Safe and Healthy While Visiting Canada

Whether visiting family or friends for a short period,
touring the country, or planning to immigrate, visitors to Canada are
vulnerable to the costs of the Canadian health care system.

According to the Canadian Tourism Commission, Canada
receives over 17 million visitors each year, and each one of them should have
travel health insurance to protect them against the high costs of health care
in Canada.

Health Care in Canada
is not free!

Visitors need to know that foreign insurance plans may not
cover Canadian medical costs and most government health insurance plans in
countries around the world will not cover accidents or medical emergencies
incurred by their residents while travelling in Canada.

Canadian provincial health insurance does not cover
non-resident visitors, even if they are visiting family – uninsured visitors are
expected to pay in full for medical bills incurred in Canada.

Also, provincial health care in Canada can lapse. If you’re
a Canadian who has been out of the country for a long period, you have to
reapply for coverage when you return. The same process applies for new
immigrants and international students studying in Canada. These groups are
vulnerable to the high costs of Canadian health care during this wait period,
which depending on the province, is at least 3 months.

Who is considered a visitor
to Canada?

A visitor is any non-resident visiting from another country,
including:

International tourists

Temporary foreign workers

New immigrants

Returning Canadians

Travelling youth

Super visa applicants

All visitors within these categories require travel and
health insurance while in Canada, and it is up to them to make appropriate
arrangements prior to their departure.

Why do visitors to
Canada need travel health insurance?

A medical emergency of any kind can happen anytime,
anywhere, and to anyone. Travel health insurance is a safety net if emergency
medical attention is required. The following are examples of the high costs of
medical care in Canada:

Unless you’re applying for a visa, travel health insurance
is usually not mandatory, but the Government of Canada encourages visitors to
get the right health insurance to cover medical costs before they arrive in the
country. The process of applying for a Visitors to Canada plan is very simple.
Consider the following when purchasing a visitor to Canada plan:

Timing

Coverage

Side trips

Pre-existing medical conditions

Super visa applicants

Timing

Purchase travel insurance prior to departing your home
country—a waiting period will apply if coverage is purchased after arrival.
Coverage begins when visitors leave their home country and continues while they
are en route to Canada, and while they travel back to their home country.
Prepare in advance and get your insurance as soon as you book your trip!

Coverage

Visitors to Canada plans offer a range of coverage options
from $10,000 to $1 million of coverage per person. Plans include options with
medical, non-medical, or combined coverage, with the following benefits:

Treatment for unforeseen medical emergencies

Hospital fees, including doctors, nurses, drugs,
and tests

Specialists and therapists

Emergency dental

Accidental death and dismemberment

Additional benefits, such as trip cancellation/interruption
and lost or stolen luggage, can be purchased separately.

Pre-existing medical
conditions

Plans are available for individuals with pre-existing
conditions up to age 79, with no medical questionnaire. There are also options
for those 80+ in age, with some limitations. Expenses are covered for
emergencies related to stable pre-existing conditions.

Coverage for trips
outside of Canada

Planning on travelling outside of Canada during your visit?
No problem — Visitors to Canada plans can offer insurance coverage for side
trips as well as trips for after your stay in Canada. Options for side trips
are available as long as the majority of your trip is spent in Canada.

Super Visa

Overseas parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and
permanent residents in Canada can apply to stay with their families in Canada
for up two years, with the following travel health requirements prior to
arrival:

travel insurance from a Canadian insurance company to cover health
care, hospitalization, and repatriation for a minimum of one year

minimum health coverage of $100,000

proof of insurance available for review by a
port-of-entry officer

What are my insurance
options?

MSH International has developed a plan that’s been designed
for a wide range of visitors to Canada—Super Visa applicants, travelling youth,
new immigrants, and returning Canadians.

Discover Canada: Super Visa and Visitors to Canada is an
affordable, comprehensive assistance and medical travel insurance plan for
anyone in Canada without government health insurance.

Benefit packages include maximum limits of up to $1 million,
which gives peace of mind to even the most conscientious consumers.

Canada welcomes visitors from around the world, but not
their medical bills, so ensure you understand the details of travel health
insurance before coming to Canada. If you’re still unsure if a Visitors to
Canada plan is right for you or your visitors, our Insurance Solutions team is
available to answer any of your questions or provide you with a quote.

Promoting consumer best-practices since 1946. Ingle International provides customized travel insurance solutions for anyone studying, working, or living anywhere in the world. Available are a range of plug and play solutions that drive revenue and enhance customer engagement for insurance, health care, and special-risk. It represents a vast range of Canadian and International insurance providers to bring greater choice and specialty options to consumers. Innovation is supported by an in-house technology group, high-service member contact centers, creative enhancement services, and results-driven client strategists.

Global Insurance Pioneers Since 1946

About Ingle International

A trusted name in the industry, Ingle International now part of MSH Americas provides customized travel insurance solutions for anyone studying, working, or living anywhere in the world. Representing insurers worldwide, Ingle International will find the right insurance product to suit the unique travel needs of groups and individuals. Specializing in insurance, health care, and emergency assistance services since 1946.